Wednesday, August 31, 2016

﻿Lisa Elton is our Hostess this month ... can we all say 'awwwwwwww'? Lisa has a way with the sweetest, most feminine of all designs and products - all that included in our wonderful August 'Sweet Pea' Kit - here is your peek at the goodness:

I, unfortunately, am knee-deep in packing for our move at the moment. BUT I had the nicest bit of time last Saturday to make all this ... ready, set, coffee? go!

Lisa I am so happy that I got an entire day to play with your wonderful kit - thank you!

Now it's back to packing for me ... the move is happening SOON!!! But YOU all must run over to the 12 Kits of Occasions blog for a looky-loo at ALL the gorgeous cards my teamies have made ... and Lisa has a couple of sweet prizes to give two visitors to her personal blog ... thanks for the visit today!

Using that perfect 'waffle cone' cardstock once again, and a another piece of Creative Girl paper from Cosmo Cricket, I'm pretty happy with my yummy version of the sketch ... of course I know I'll be seeing many delish cards from my team-mates, and in the gallery, too! See you there? Hope so!

Tuesday, August 23, 2016

Concord & 9th presented us with the cutest die with their latest release: Thanks Card Dies. it's time to thank them for giving me the most fun day of crafting with it! All of my cards were made from a variety of double sided, 12x12" papers, and the easy to follow, fabulous instructional video by Greg. Ready. Set. Go!

A cute little scalloped curve, and a few select words from W& W completed this one perfectly.

Remembering to leave the tag dangling, it happily goes with the die cut when opening!

This size is fun, thanks to Jennifer McGuire ... did you see her video yet?

I took this one further by embossing just the card portion ... easier than you might think!

For my final card ... more fun monkeys from BasicGrey's Hey Boy! who doesn't love a 'hoody'?

Okay ... I've kept you long enough. But! You really need to look at the GORGEOUS examples on the Concord & 9th shop page for the Thanks Card Dies ... seriously. I'm going back in for the pretty today ... and my next Concord & 9th product from the haul ... see you!Thanks for stopping by ... yo.=] Michele#concordand9th

Monday, August 22, 2016

I shared the ginormous 'haul' I've had in the past weeks on I.G. recently ... many of you shared my guilty pleasure. Many more said they did this every week - for those ladies, I do wish I lived next door! Often what happens here is that they lay dormant for weeks because I'm totally overwhelmed by it all ... not this time! I'm determined you'll see every set used a little, or a lot, in the next few days! Saturday I monkeyed around with the new set from Ellen Hutson, LLC designed by my very own long-distance friend, Kimberly Wiener of wienerhoneymooners fame: Sock Monkey Surprise ... OH can we all do an honorary bit of monkey clapping??!! Congrats, sweet girl ... I had a blast with it [and Tom even put in his two cents!] Up first: a 'cymbal' of my love:

Kimberly would never mind my little rearranging of limbs, or tail! Initially he was just clapping ... until Tom came into the room and reminded me of the iconic cymbal clapping wind-up toy! Enter two extra large bronze sequins!

These fun papers are from BasicGrey Hey Boy!

Everyone knows a sock monkey can play any instrument while hanging from his tail, right?

Next card ...

﻿

An addition of Julie Ebersole's clouds from Up the Happy seemed the perfect fit for this maiden voyage!

[shhh this one could be Tom's b.d. card]

Oh I have many plans for this darling set, Kimberly! Congratulations, darling girl ... I know this is a dream come true ... who better than Ellen Hutson to help you make it happen?!

Hope everyone has a great Monday ... of to the laundry room! [wish I had a monkey that could do laundry, windows ... and pack!]

=] Michele

psst ... I found the perfect color combo for Mr. Socks: Copic E000, R37 and Spectrum Noir TN7... but would love a Copic brown suggestion! thanks!

Sunday, August 21, 2016

OH there is a taste of Autumn in the air today ... Tom hit the driving range, and I hit the craft room for a bit of play time!Concord & 9th is celebrating their birthday, and I'm celebrating them. LOts of SWEET stuff arrived last week, and I found the perfect home for one of them... Sandy at The Paper Players provided it, with PP309:

Thursday, August 18, 2016

I'm seriously crushing on this week's sketch ... probably because it gave the perfect platform for the stamp set I'm currently in love with ... here's N@ Ali's sketch:

Pretty cool, huh?

That certain stamp set? Wplus9's Happy Wishes and matching dies ... it is FULL of fun little flowers.

One of my 12 Kits team-mates - Joyce Mehrberg - told me the very easiest way to die cut first, stamp second, by placing the stamp in the negative space to line it up, of course while using the fabulous MISTI. Kudos to you, my friend!

Wednesday, August 17, 2016

Between the Olympics, and butterfly watch, I've had my share of 'watching!' Time today to MAKE something!!! One last entry for #Altenew and their fabulous Inspiration Challenge. I couldn't wait to emboss this gorgeous image from the Floral Sprig set that arrived this week!

Before I leave you ... would you have time for another two?

There is a brilliant card maker who I admire immensely that I must give all credit to for my next card...

Friday, August 12, 2016

I love to end my week on a great note ... mixing Ellen Hutson, and Winnie & Walter one more time? A very good note ... add coffee, whoa, that is a whole lot of fun!

You may not immediately see the W&W I've used, but look again and you'll see the awesome impression I achieved dry embossing with their Pattern of Rings: Creative Scenery. A perfect little pattern that creates the perfect home for Ellen Hutson by Julie Ebersole's Oh Frappe! Take a peek:

Altenew Dark Chocolate ink for the beans =]

Now. Off to a little playtime with two of my granddaughters - Lola and Drew are in the house!!

Hope you have a fun weekend planned ... of course I hope it includes a little [or a lot] of craft time!

Thursday, August 11, 2016

The Heart Desires Challenge #3 is the perfect place to grow a succulent ... I've had fun 'planting' one of my very own using a few Lola's Bouquet Cutaways, and a bit of creative stamping...Here is the fabulous inspiration photo from THD:

It just so happens my card fits in the Rerun Challenge at Winnie & Walter ... if I have the luck of the draw, I'll be sending the Lola's Bouquet by Joni Andaya stamp set off to a lucky commenter of my own! Fingers crossed for both of us!

Often times you've heard me say 'I scratched my head' over one sketch or another ... this time? Well. See for yourself:

I speak the truth, right?! But, ever ready for a challenge, I persevered!!! Take that, Leigh Penner!!! [that said with a very big smile =] she knows I totally love her sketches!]For Leigh and CTS #185:

You've seen me do this ombre effect before in pinks ... so much fun to do!

That's it for me, Ellen - I sure hope I've managed to make you smile!! I've had tons of fun playing cards with you this week!Thanks, my friends, for all your kindness, and the sweetest support!=] Michele

Tuesday, August 9, 2016

Ellen Hutson has an open call for a guest designer for the Pin-Sights Challenge ... I've entered one card/project, but couldn't resist another try =] I do hope you'll join me!Lucky me that E.H. teamed up with Winnie & Walter for the Mix it Up Challenge this month! I have SO many fun ways to play with W&W cutaways - what 'fun' to get wildly creative with Julie's Wild Garden die cut flowers!

Monday, August 8, 2016

It's no secret that I adore Winnie & Walter ... how convenient that Ellen Hutson has chosen them for their Mix it Up Challenge for August =] Oh you'll be seeing me a few times mixing it up for their Artist Call, too - fair warning!

There is a special friend that I must celebrate today ... amy T. this is NOT your card, but certainly is indicative of my thoughts! [the real thing is on it's way - you know me, late for everything!]For Stamping Smiles Designs Tic Tac Toe #15 ... yes I'm back ... with Burlap, Word Dies, and Bokeh Effect:

My 'bokeh' birthday balloons are quite difficult to see, but that is the idea, right? 'Oh' was created by snipping a few letters from the Mama Elephant die cut words. And the 'burlap' is that favorite of mine, [remember my waffle paper] in white.amy, I do hope you have the very best birthday and do every fun thing your heart desires!!! love you bunches! xx=] Michele